Courts / Clare / Report

Jury clears man of murder but finds him guilty of manslaughter over stabbing

Date
2019-02-13

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Kilkee

County
Clare

Summary

A Clare man, Robbie Walsh, 23, was acquitted of murder but found guilty of manslaughter after stabbing Karl "Gobbo" Haugh, 25, at Marian Estate, Kilkee, on 6 August 2017. The jury, after more than three hours, returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty of murder and guilty of manslaughter. Judge Carmel Stewart explained that a guilty verdict requires proof beyond reasonable doubt that the accused intended to kill or cause serious harm, and that if the intention was primarily self‑defence, the killing would be manslaughter. Walsh admitted to stabbing Haugh in the back, claiming he had no intention to kill and that he had only wanted to smash a few windows. He was remanded in custody pending sentencing. The trial included testimony from Walsh's Garda interviews, witness accounts of the fight, and medical evidence that Haugh died from a single stab wound puncturing his lung and causing massive bleeding.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Jury clears man of murder but finds him guilty of manslaughter over stabbing. Charges or matters: murdering 25-year-old Karl "Gobbo" Haugh at Marian Estate, Kilkee, Co. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

August 6, 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
March 25 Adjournment
2019-02-13 Publication

Why: " He told gardaí that after he swung the knife, he believed Mr Haugh to be okay because "he got back up". CNI source report

Case subjects

Robbie Walsh

Defendant

Charges: murdering 25-year-old Karl "Gobbo" Haugh at Marian Estate, Kilkee, Co (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

Outcome: She remanded Walsh in custody and ordered a report from the Probation Service pending sentence hearing on March 25, next.; She remanded Walsh in custody and ordered a report from the Probation Service pending sentence hearing on March 25, next.